Major Controversies Surrounding Tom Brady: A Detailed Timeline

Public opinion and media debates around Tom Brady—discover key moments of controversy.

Tom Brady is a former American football quarterback, widely considered the greatest of all time. He played 23 seasons in the NFL, spending 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and three with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a key player in the Patriots' dynasty from 2001 to 2019. Now he is a sports broadcaster.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

May 6, 2015: NFL Published Deflategate Report

On May 6, 2015, the NFL released a 243-page report regarding the deflation of footballs in the previous season's AFC Championship Game. The report suggested that Tom Brady was likely aware of the intentional deflation.

2015: Brady's Suspension Vacated

In 2015, Judge Richard M. Berman vacated Tom Brady's four-game suspension, allowing him to play in the first four games of the season. Judge Berman cited the NFL's failure to provide proper notice and potential manipulation of Brady's testimony.

2015: NFL Ordered Deletion of PSI Data

In 2015, NFL general counsel Jeff Pash ordered the deletion of all PSI data gathered from the 2015 season. Leaked transcripts revealed that NFL senior VP of football operations Dave Gardi used false numbers in his letter to the Patriots, leading to the team's investigation. It was also revealed that the NFL failed to properly record measurements and was unaware of the Ideal Gas Law.

2015: NFL Appealed Decision to Vacate Brady's Suspension

On March 3, 2016, the NFL appealed Judge Richard M. Berman's 2015 decision to vacate Tom Brady's four-game suspension in the Deflategate scandal. The appeals court questioned the evidence of ball tampering.

2016: Trump Claims Brady's Support

At a political event in New Hampshire on the day before the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump claimed he had received a call from Tom Brady, who allegedly voiced his support and vote.

2016: Trump Asks Brady to Speak at Convention

Donald Trump asked Tom Brady to speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention, which Brady declined.

2016: Concussion Concerns

In 2016, Tom Brady allegedly suffered from a concussion. His wife, Gisele Bündchen, mentioned he has concussions 'pretty much every,' but the NFL stated there were no records indicating a head injury or concussion.

2016: Second Streak Ended Due to Suspension

In 2016, Tom Brady's second streak of consecutive starts ended due to suspension.

2016: Suspension Overturned and Reinstated

On April 25, 2016, the decision to vacate Tom Brady's four-game suspension was overturned by the U.S. Appeals Court. On July 15, Brady announced he would accept his suspension for the first four games of the season.

April 2017: Brady Skips White House Visit

In April 2017, Tom Brady did not join the New England Patriots in visiting Donald Trump at the White House after their Super Bowl victory, citing "personal family matters."

April 2020: Discusses Relationship with Trump

In an interview with Howard Stern on The Howard Stern Show in April 2020, Tom Brady explained that Donald Trump had reached out to him to speak at the 2016 Republican National Convention, which he declined.

2021: Brady Becomes Spokesperson for FTX

In 2021, Tom Brady became a paid spokesperson for FTX, a cryptocurrency exchange.

February 2022: Florio Reveals Falsified Data in Deflategate

In February 2022, sportswriter Mike Florio revealed in his book "Playmakers: How the NFL Really Works (And Doesn't)" that the NFL falsified data and hid information that would have cleared Tom Brady and the Patriots of wrongdoing in the Deflategate scandal. Florio noted that most of the Patriots' footballs were within the predicted range of the Ideal Gas Law.

February 2022: Court Ruling on Social Media Solicitation

In February 2022, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in a lawsuit against Bitconnect that the Securities Act of 1933 extends to targeted solicitation using social media.

November 2022: FTX Files for Bankruptcy

In November 2022, FTX filed for bankruptcy, resulting in significant financial losses for customers and Tom Brady's stake in the company.

2022: Brady Says He Hasn't Spoken With Trump in Years

Tom Brady said in 2022 that he had not spoken with Donald Trump in "years" and that his relationship with Trump had been mischaracterized by the media.

2023: Brady's Losses Due to FTX Bankruptcy Reported

In 2023, it was reported that Tom Brady owned 1,144,861 common shares in FTX, and he and his wife lost an estimated combined value of $45 million when FTX went bankrupt.